It's an Epic Day!

"TREES" artwork by one of my sisters...
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Well it’s an EPIC day! I have finally truly broken the stall I was at for REAL. I have lost 2 pounds in two days.

I was stalled for over 5 weeks.

I am so happy. I am VERY motivated. I am actually so motivated I am thinking of fasting tomorrow. (just thought of that). I am at least going to plan on one soon.. for one day. I joined the Intermittent Fasting thread on LCF (low carb friends) and am reading in my spare time. I like the idea of short one day fasts. I have fasting experience, good and bad!

Last night dinner:
Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Roasted Asparagus with Olive Oil and Balsamic (yum!).. I could so be a vegetarian again.


I also read an interesting bit of Trivia that ScandalouslyGlam
posted on LCF re: Joan Crawford:

“Waaaaaaaaaay back in 1926 Joan Crawford wanted to stand out from all the other young women flocking to Hollywood in hopes of fame and fortune. So she went on a diet that consisted of Steak for lunch with sliced tomatoes and steak for dinner with sliced tomatoes. She gave up ALL Starches and sweets though she did eat 1/2 a grapefruit every morning for breakfast. Within weeks she dropped 20 pounds.

The change was so dramatic that rumors spread that she had cosmetic surgery to make her eyes appear Bigger!! [Joan Crawford A Biography, by Bob Thomas c1968]

(she also was a not very good mother, I know...lol. I was just SO surprised to see this in print)“

I also love her siggy:

Losing weight is hard.
Being fat is hard.
Pick your hard.

Right On!!!


Here is a link to the thread:
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/main-lowcarb-lobby/663288-joan-crawford-knew-what-all-about.html

Well today is going to be a very busy day.
I got a shipment of gemstones in and I am working on listing. It's going to take DAYS but I am thrilled with the quality. Hopefully I might actually create something for myself with a few of them!
Here is one of my sites (the gemstone one) if anyone is interested:

http://www.GemGourmet.etsy.com

This has turned into a pretty serious "stay at home job".. recently had my 1000th sale!

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So I had a conversation with Patrick a few days ago re: all the cooking (3 meals a day, every day for MONTHS) I have been doing and we decided he would grill one night a week and I would make a list of LowCarb friendly fast food and restaurants that have pick up/takeout and he will bring home dinner one night a week also.. SO that is two dinners a week I can NOT worry about!

Tonight he is actually going to pick up some of the new Grilled Hot Wings from KFC.. oh and double green beans... Hope they are good, we have not had them yet.

Breakfasts are usually not hard and I try to make double dinners so we have leftovers for lunches. This works well for both of us.

Well.. BACK to work I go.
Everyone have a fantastic day!

Monday, I love Mondays...

Well looks like I FINALLY have broken thru my post induction stall. I have stayed at the same weight for 5 weeks.. finally today the scale shows another pound lost, which to some of you I am sure is nothing but for me a pound is great. I lose very slowly anyway.

I am SO glad, to be honest I was beginning to get a little peeved!!!


Just knowing my body has finally started to release some more weight is making me smile this morning.

I actually am pretty sure it is more than that but my body loves to hold on to water! According to my fitday I should actually be down more like 5#!

But Joy!! my post induction stall is OVER!

I have a little extra time today so I am reading some threads I have been wanting to on LCF (lowcarbfriends.com).
I am considering doing Intermittent Fasting (I am not sure exactly how they are doing their program yet) but I won’t fast more than one day a week.. maybe 3 weeks a month.

I am also reading more about Lyle McDonald’s program and refeeds. I know (or at least I think) this is more for people who are working out a lot or very close to their goal.. again not sure but this is what I think.. I just want to read some of the science behind it. NOT going to do any refeeds right now.

This week is going to be a nice week. Patrick and I went shopping for all our groceries for the week. Tonight we are having a nice ribeye on the grill and some fresh asparagus.. I think I may steam the asparagus this time.. I normally roast it with balsamic butter.. which I love but I kind of want a change… we will see.

Have a great week everyone, I know I will!

I'm Good~

Beautiful Collage Art "Ophelia"...
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39845260


Well nothing much to report except I am doing well.. I have not lost any more weight yet but I am not concerned.. Still in Ketosis (I need to post that article about WHY we stall post induction.. for up to 6 weeks (I am going on four weeks stalled).

I feel good though, well great actually!

Life is good. I have sort of eased into my LC lifestyle and things are cruising along nicely. It’s not that difficult. I do want Patrick to grill some extra meats over the weekends so I can put them in the freezer.. will make lunch ideas easier.. I want to mix it up a bit.. so we don’t get bored.

Last night I made sauerkraut and kilbasa, I threw in a little fennel seed and it was pretty good.

Tonight I am making chicken soup with a leftover chicken from the deli.. I don’t have a lot in thehouse so far I have found spinach green beans celery and maybe some more kilbasa to be added.. I think it will be ok.. just want to stretch the food left in the house!

Need to make sure to keep up my minerals. I found a recipe I am going to try and also I need to look up the soup Fawn (on LCF) gave me.. it was a veggie type broth I made a few months ago that was good.

Anyway here is the homemade sports drink (for electrolytes) recipe I found:

* 2 quarts water
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt substitute (made with potassium chloride)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 4 T lemon juice
* stevia to taste

I have not made it yet but I am going to..
Also wanted to post high potassium, LC foods:

 1 cup yogurt – 573 mg potassium (yogurt actually only has about 4 carbs per C)
 1 4 oz pork chop (boneless) – 514 mg
 1 cup cooked chopped broccoli – 458 mg
 ½ avocado – 436 mg
 ½ cup cooked spinach – 420 mg

Other high potassium low carb foods include:
 4 oz beef (sirloin) 495 mg
 4 oz grilled salmon – 480 mg
 1 cup chopped chicken breast meat – 358 mg
 2 Tablespoons tomato paste – 342 mg
 1 3X3” Miracle Brownie (see below – going to make these some time!)– 333 mg
 1 cup raw cauliflower – 303 mg
 2 T peanut butter – 240 mg
 1 cup black tea - 88 mg


Miracle Brownies Low Carb

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
 1/4 lb butter (1 stick)
 2 cups erythritol (powdered, not granulated)
 1 Tbsp vanilla
 4 eggs (room temp is best)
 1/2 cup cocoa
 1 tsp salt
 4 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted
 2 cups flax seed meal
 1 Tbsp baking powder
 1/3 cup cream
 2/3 cup water
 1 cup artificial sweetener
 1 cup walnuts (optional)

Preparation:Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9X13 pan.

1) Cream the butter until fluffy.

2) Add the erythritol to the butter and cream them together until fully combined (aim for a fluffy texture).

3) Add the vanilla and beat the eggs into the mixture, one at a time.

4) Add salt and cocoa, beat well.

5) Add chocolate, beat until fluffy.

6) Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well to combine.

7) Pour into a pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until top springs back. (You can also test if they're ready by sticking a toothpick in the brownies. If it comes out clean, or almost-so, they're done.)

8) Cool, then cut into 32 squares. If you cheat and eat one warm, know that the texture will be different once completely cool. That's when they become like real brownies. (They are even better the next day.)

Nutritional Analysis: Each of 32 brownies has 1 gram effective carbohydrate, plus 3 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, 10 grams of fat, and 107 calories.
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I will be adding steamed FRESH broccoli and spinach more often and ½ AVO every once in a while. I should do one of the list every day..

Well got to get back to work!
LC is amazing.

It's Been a Month Now...

Yesterday marks four weeks back on LC. I feel great!!


Hum...
Well I am up a pound this morning.. Over the last few days it keeps going up and down this one pound.. I KNOW my body is getting ready to drop 3-4#!!! I just have to drink my water and hang on!

I have to write about how well I did over the weekend!! My sis and her family came to visit, her oldest was celebrating his 13th BD! We had such a fantastic weekend!!! AND I Stayed on plan effortlessly all weekend and was also in ketosis every time I checked..

Patrick and I went to Awful Waffle with My sis and her family for breakfast Sat. AM. I had a “steak melt” sans bread over a small side salad for “brunch”.. it was pretty good.. I added some Worstershire on top.

For dinner Sat. night we had Joe's Crab Shack !!! I LOVE Joe's!..



Patrick and I had lobster claws, snow crab, shrimp and some sausage (one of the “boils” they serve on ice..) it was a perfect meal!!! Yum and I love that he is doing this with me SO much!!
..
Sunday we went to Cracker Barrel to have brunch with them before they left.. I stayed LC (ordered off the LC menu they have).

Sun. night we had leftover blackened pork chops and lots of nuts thru the day.. and cali/broc mix..

I am SO proud of myself.. I feel so good. I did it.. I had a fantastic weekend and stayed on track, that is a very good feeling.

Yesterday was a good LC day as well.. I actually only had 12 net carbs, I LOVE Fitday! It is really helping me stay on track.

Last night I made hot dogs and sauerkraut for dinner, I REALLY liked this!
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Sat we took my sister's oldest (for his 13th BD) to one of the smaller parks here in Orlando (The Fun Spot).

They have three go-kart tracks and I rode one of the double karts with Patrick one time. It was fun, he rode on and off the rest of the day.

My sis and I found this VERY tall hydraulic swing ride.. It was called "The Scream Swing"..

Here is an article about it I found on line:

"a recent addition to Fun Spot USA in Kissimmee, is really just a dramatic, gigantic, mother of all playground swing sets. Two long poles carry back-to-back rows of two riders each for a capacity of eight. The seats have lap bars but no shoulder harnesses. The poles start to sway -- one forward, one backward -- building momentum and larger arcs until the cars are swinging wide and parallel to the ground -- and then beyond parallel over 90deg! -- and over the nearby parking lot.

"I'll scream if you will," Justine, a teenage tourist from Michigan, says to me in line.

You've got a deal, Justine.

We start forward, then glide back. Each pass is a bit wider than the one previous. Justine is all hands up in the air, waving them like she just doesn't care. I'm a gripper. We both whoop and holler. She's a veteran of thrill-heavy Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, and she had just been to Islands of Adventure, too, but this simple pleasure works for her.

Eventually we're at the peak, hovering over the parking lot. There's a short moment of weightlessness, but it's long enough to think "I'm glad I'm not parked right there."

On the opposite side of the arc, we're treated to a backs-to-the-ground, back-to-nature sight that's pure Florida sky and clouds. Swing, scream, repeat. Swing, scream repeat"..

Anyway it was a BLAST and scream I did.. my sis on the other hand, laughed the entire time!

The Week in Review...

It's been a phenomenally brilliant week!

My second week on Induction has been great.

I have not lost anymore weight but I HAVE lost inches.

I have had energy THRU the roof ( I actually don't know that I have felt energy like this before on LC - I have been taking a fair amt. of supplements this time around).

I feel clear headed, calm, much less moody, highly motivated and hardly have any hunger at all (I know it will come back.. it always does).

I have been eating small meals (more like snacks really) three times a day and making a nice dinner for Patrick and I each night..

I have not been over 20 carbs and some days struggle to get that many.

I have not touched nuts (HARD) and only had 2oz of cheese a day, this is prob. my most difficult accomplishment so far because I would rather eat cheese more than ANYTHING.

I have gone down over 2" in my waist and an inch in my hips.. which with not actually losing on the scale, I am VERY glad I measured.

The only issue I am having is drinking enough water. I am working on that!

A few other thoughts...

It's been very interesting how little hunger I have had this past week. I have actually had to make myself eat a few times and would notice it's 3pm before I would get hungry at ALL.

I have binge eating issues in the past if I restrict food too much so I am eating as much as I need but keeping a REAL eye on how much I actually DO need. Some days this last week it has not been much.

I know my hunger comes and goes and I have to learn not to push myself too much (use Ketosis to further starve myself!) it's very tempting to just NOT eat when I am not hungry - but a few small snacks thru the day keep me going fine.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! I know I will!

MORE Energy!

I Have Crazy Energy!!!!

Ok.. I am not getting on the scale until Monday and I am staying VLC and lower cal (as best as I can) until then. I would love to see a few more pounds off on Monday!

I had to write about this energy! I can't believe how great I am feeling! I feel like I did years ago before I was so overweight. I can't imagine how I am going to actually feel when I am more slim.

My sister and her family are coming this weekend and I am working VERY hard on cleaning the house.. I just got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed the bathroom floor! I’ve NEVER done that! I feel so good.. I have a crazy amount of energy! If my back would stop hurting I would be a crazy whirlwind working on this house. I just can't express how I feel.

We will be taking her son to the sky coaster Saturday... the fact that we are going made me think about how much I miss out on life because of this weight. There are so many things I just won't do right now.. like ride a bike or roller blade or get on that freaking sky coaster! I can't wait until those changes come.

Later....


It’s 2pm..
And I am still not really very hungry. I need to make sure I don't go overboard and use this ketosis appetite suppression as a reason to push myself too far.. I don't need to starve myself. It's so tempting though.. I get caught up in that "I want it now" mentality.

I am going to go with this while I have the appetite suppression and I am sure I will get hungry soon enough.

Later...

It's 5:15pm and I was feeling a bit of nausea.. I decided to eat a bit. I had some Kosher salami warmed in the micro. it was GOOD.

Tonight I am making pork chops and broccoli with cheese sauce. yum I actually LOVE broccoli now.

Just Catching Up Witch Ya...

Happy February, hope it's a month full of Lurve for ya!~

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Well I am feeling MUCH better now!
Energy thru the roof today which is good because I have to clean like crazy!

I still have not lost any more weight after my orig. Induction "woosh" but I am experienced at this and know my body and it's just trying to reach an equalibrium. I could go a couple more weeks even, with no loss but soon enough I will hopefully get some pounds down!

I have continued to be in ketosis for the last three weeks so I KNOW I am buring fat. A couple of days last week I am sure I ate too many calories.. I just recently (day before yesterday) started keeping track with Fitday.. it's time consuming but how else will I keep real.?!

I guess I need to just suck it up and do what I SAID I was going to do and just do this WOE no matter what. If I never lose another pound at least maybe I won’t get diabetes!

Last night we had bacon cheeseburgers and Brussels sprouts. YUM

Today I have not eaten much.. a couple ounces of cheese only, so far. I am just not that hungry and I am going with that. If and when my appetite comes back (it always does) I will eat more.

I am making Artic Char and roasted green beans for dinner tonight.. Artic Char is one of my VERY fav. fish.

Feeling pretty good.. I’ve been working on the house all day because Stacy (my sista) and JB (her hubbie) and the boys are coming Sat. We are taking Conrad to the Sky Coaster for his BD. Maybe some day I will actually get the nerve to get on that thing!

It's going to be a Fantastic Fun Weekend!

Today's A Betta Day!

Don't have bunches of time but I wanted to note that I am feeling much better and I have stayed below 25 carbs (mostly below 20) the past week and have stayed in Ketosis the entire time. Official Weigh in is tomorrow but I couldn't wait, got on the scale only to find I have not lost any more YET. No worries!

A friend sent me this.. it made me smile:



Will catch up later!

Still Rollin' Right Along and ARGGGG!!!!

Well it's been a while since I have posted.

Things are good. I am doing better now that Ketosis has finally kicked in. I LOVE Ketosis. I think it is amazing the way it helps my hunger. It's nice to have what I think must be "normal" hunger, you know the type of hunger you feel when your blood sugar is not blasting you with cravings.

I think this is what healthy hunger must feel like. I can look at the clock and see that it's been 3-5 hours and I didn't realize I worked right thru lunch.

I have been crazy busy this past week. I have a home based business. Well 3 actually!

My Gallery Website:
www.CaryMartinDesigns.com

My Etsy Lovely LUXE store:
www.LovelyLuxeJewels.etsy.com

My Etsy CaryMartinDesigns store:
www.CaryMartinDesigns.etsy.com

My Etsy gemstone store:
www.GemGourmet.etsy.com

I stay pretty busy and especially since I just got back from my HUGE Gemshow and plunged us into debt again! I have pressure (well it's pressure I put on myself of course) to make this back as soon as possible so I am crazy busy. It is cool to not be constantly thinking about food. Low Fat diets suck. Period.

I am feeling PRETTY freaking bad right now because I am major hormonal. Serioulsy don't look at me like that I might have to bitch slap you

and then feel really bad about it and start crying. and then 5 minutes later tell you how much I love you ... I am totally freaky like that right now...

Did you know that we hold estrogen in our fat cells (excess estrogen). I learned this years ago when I was Dx with PCOS (Poly Cyctic Ovarian Symdrome) - and when we lose fat the excess estrogen is released into our bloodstream. so THERE. I am really NOT feeling all sweet and fluffy right now.

So far so good...

Working on a post...
can't get my pix to load correctly right now.. WTF Blogger?

Wow, What's this? IT'S ENERGY!!!!

ENERGY!

I just had to write about how WELL, hell AMAZING I am feeling.. I am a bundle of energy. It's crazy. I realized I have been feeling like a slug so much in the past. I am getting LOTS done around the house and managing to get some more gemstone listings (one of my businesses!) up at the same time.

I used to bitch about not being able to handle the house and my business at the same time but if my energy stays this grand I will for sure be caught up fairly soon.

I feel very good. I also am very clear headed only my mind won't stop running thru all the things I NEED to do. I started a list. (soon I imagine I will have lists for my lists!).

I am also seeming to be coming out of what was apparently a depression. It's sad because I didn't know I was feeling down. It's sort of like you didn't know your eyesight was that bad until you put on glasses.

I have been taking 5HTP which helps control cravings and also helps depression... It seems to be working, I just ordered another bottle.

I am going to be weighing Friday just because I am curious how I have done this week so far. Of course Monday will still be official weigh in day.

I am on day 10 of being back on LC.

Last night I made Italian spiced meatballs (an even mixture of ground beef and sage breakfast sausage and LOTS of Penzey's Pizza spice.

I mixed it all together with an egg and rolled them up and cooked them in a pan with a little peanut oil - just about a quarter inch in the pan.

We then dipped them in the Waldon's Spicy BBQ sauce (0 Carbs for 2T) and had Italian green beans on the side.

Meal was maybe a total of 5 carbs and REALLY good. But how can you beat Italian meatballs!

Good Morning Sunshine!

Official weigh in is on Mondays..so I got on the scale.

I have lost 4# my first week back on induction which is RIGHT ON SCHEDULE!!! I am re-reading the Atkins book and it’s a good thing. It says that normally women can expect around 8 pounds for induction and men 10. That is the two weeks of induction. I am one week in.

I did realize I am not to be having nuts and also eating too much cheese so I had Patrick hide the nuts - that way he can have them when he wants and I'm not tempted. I will add them later on.

I want to do induction for a long time, at least until I really stop losing for 3 weeks in a row. I admit that I wanted to see like 8 pounds, like I used to when starting Induction but I know I won't see those numbers again. Well also before I was really carbed up… Since I was just coming off WeightWatchers when I started LC again I am sure I was not that full of excess glycogen thus not that much water weight which is what the 4 pounds truly was, but NOW I am in ketosis so I am burning fat.

What many Atkins followers don't understand is that you burn a combo of dietary fat and actual body fat. IF you over eat too much fat you won't lose body fat so you really STILL have to watch that you don't go overboard.

*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ * ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ATKINS!!!♥


I am reading around on line for inspiration this chilly morning and ran across this success story I like:
http://www.lowcarb.ca/stories/story014.html

I truly LOVE this from his Top 10 advice :

5. Do nothing half-assed. If you are dieting, be strict. If you are exercising, push yourself . Don’t do anything halfway or you will develop the habit of doing things halfway. The number one enemy of the dieter is the attitude of “I’ll go a little at a time.” It rarely works.

6. Do not weight daily. Weigh once a week at first, then once a month later. Constant weigh ins are either really really good, or really really bad. And while really really good doesn’t do a whole lot besides make you smile, really, really bad can get you to quit.

I especially need to stop weighing so often. I really do.

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Last night I made a great meal.

I pounded chicken breast flat and laid slices of cream cheese and ham on one side… then added lots of pepper and garlic powder and a little salt and folded the other half over. I had microwaved a few pieces of bacon until almost done and then laid them over the chicken in an 8 x8 pan. Roasted in the oven for about 35 min. (I like my chicken pretty well done)..

Had to broil it a bit so the bacon was good and crisp. I had earlier in the day sliced a cucumber and a half (just for the two of us) and marinated it in a LC Italian dressing with chopped green onion.. it was simple and surprisingly good.

I Want to Go SHOPPING! already...

Thursday, January 14, 2010

So.. I ate too much PB and nuts yesterday but still down a pound since yesterday. I don’t think I was as carbed up as I have been before when re-starting induction because I am not losing as much as fast. I am not going to really count calories or watch what I eat (except carbs) until my weight loss stops for 10 days in a row or such. Sooner or later I will have to AGAIN.

I had 24 carbs yesterday.
about 30 the day before.. (on Southbeach I have not been doing as low carbs as I was on Induction Atkins).

No worries though.
Doing good. Looking at clothes today! I want to buy some new stuff but not sure if I really can yet (cash). I found this outfit I want at NewPort-news.com:



I want it in the blue.. it’s a long tunic cami and long dolman sleeve sweater jacket. I want these pants too:



They are boot cut, control top “leggings’.. (I can't stand normal leggings on heavy women, I am sorry you need to be a waif to pull these things off!)

But these are bootcut and have a control top! How cool is that?

I could wear them with the above outfit because the jacket will cover my arse and hips. God help my arse and hips~

Looking at clothes keeps me motivated.

I Heart Shirataki Noodles...

It's true love...



Today has been a good day.

I am feeling pretty tired and I know it's just carb withdrawal. I am taking LOTS of minerals (always helps) and tonight I am making a great dinner.

I had some shirataki noodles in the bottom of my fridge and decided to play around with them for lunch.

I thought about what was all in "fried rice" and came up with a sort of "recipe" for the noodles that turned out so good!

I rinsed them really well in hot water and then "dried" them in a skillet until the water had evaporated. I threw in a little garlic and green onion and grated ginger and a T of peanut oil and sautéed them.

Then I added chicken (pulled off our chicken leftover from last night) and an egg and cooked it and at the very end added a little chili paste, soy sauce and toasted sesame oil.

It was so good I am making more tonight for dinner when Patrick gets home.

I LOVE how versatile Shirataki is.

Now if I could find a way to do the peanut noodles that would be the bomb.

Officially Back On Low Carb

Nice Sunrise - Where does the road lead?


Well I thought that was a cool photo to represent a new beginning. The sun just dawning on a new day and a highway that leads on down the road.

Starting back on Low Carb today.
Not much fanfare, just going to do it.

Went to the store, stocked up. I've done this before. I know it's the best thing for not only my weight but my health (blood pressure, blood sugar.. etc).

Didn't feel like doing much of a menu. Not really wanting to get too difficult with cooking and such right now. Have a desire to keep it simple for a while.

I will have to shake things up soon enough, but for now I want it easy.

Hard Night Last Night...

Well last night was hard. I am such an emotional eater, I got upset about something and just started pigging on almonds, cheese and crackers. I truly was very hungry when it started but then I just kept on eating WAY too much. I just ate on auto pilot.

I know the fact that I let myself get too hungry was part of the cause I am also so damn spastic about dieting right now, reading constantly, reviewing stuff on line, watching diet programs I have recorded on the TV. My mind is saturated and over whelmed. It's too much.

I also decided I am too hard on myself.

I woke up this morning with a thought in my mind that I need to take better emotional care of myself. Let my mind free a bit and allow myself to FEEL.

I really need to nurture myself more. This was the first thought that popped in my head as I was waking this morning and I have learned to honor those thoughts.

Anyhoo. I looked at the fact that I had three out of four good days and decided that I would be happy with that (it’s 75%~!!) and not beat myself up and get right back on.

I AM going to lose allot of weight in 2010 and I know I will get in my zone soon enough.

In the mean time I need to enjoy my life! I don’t have to have the “wrong” foods to do that. Whatever those foods are.. I know they are white stuff and SUGAR (I started reading my "Good Calories - Bad Calories again).. I am going to incorporate more protein in an effort to not be so hungry all day long!

So basically I need to stop with the diet over-saturation -constantly bombarding my mind and vision with everything diet, in such a spastic way and learn to enjoy my life and relax a bit more! Of course that does not mean I have to eat crap, I just need to STOP BEING SO UPTIGHT and obsessing!





Become a bit more ZEN. Learn to notice and embrace all the goodness around me and let it flow a little more.

In a Word, Inspired...

Part of a collage I did a couple of years ago...

Well doing pretty good today.
Lost 3.5 pounds since yesterday. Love the beginning of a new diet for a quick few pounds freaking GONE!

Dealing with a little hunger tonight, I know I am not TRULY hungry though.

It's just almost 7pm and it's time for dinner only Patrick's not home yet and I like to wait until he's here. Had my afternoon popcorn snack. I LOVE the SmartPop. I can eat the entire bag (not the sad little 100 cal. one either) on my program.

Today's been good.
I am feeling inspired and motivated. I love the fact that I live in FL. I can't wait until I am more comfortable in my skin at the beach.

Well until later... NightyNite.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I love this art. This represents metamorphosis or the phoenix rising out of the ashes of an old life that's left behind. This represents change to me and it's very inspirational in my mind. I love to look at it. It makes me feel joy inside.

2010 is going to be an epic year.

I had my Black Eyed Pea Salad on New Years Day and also some yesterday. Today I am back on my diet.

Today I am actually going to fast (well I always have broth). I have some Pho paste for a nice broth I will have at dinner time.

I am only fasting one day. I am considering one day a week.

I quit smoking (for good a couple of months ago - I had smoked on and off in an attempt to quit for about an year) and it's times like these I would LOVE to have a cig!

I always associated fasting with cig days. So I will be fighting off any desire I have for one today.. No worries!

Monday's will be official weigh in day. I went ahead and weighed today just to see where I was at before my Fast day.. 232.5. (ate LOTS of black eye peas and corn bread over the last two days!). I am expecting to lose 3# in my fast today. We will see.

Sweet Sunday to everyone!

A New Start, Even Before The New Year...

Getting a jump start on 2010. It’s going to be an EPIC year!

I wanted to comment that I almost deleted my past blog posts, I want this to be a fresh new start but then I thought about it and decided to keep all of them. I am myself a compilation of my past experiences and my diet is also.

So although this is a brand new start, I am keeping all my old entries.

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I weighed 234 yesterday morning.
I just checked my journal from Jan. last year and I weighed 241. So I at least didn’t have my normal 10 pound a year gain. I was actually glad to see that.

I have not posted my weight much in the past on my blog. I am going to do it this year. I am also joining Weight Watchers some time in Jan. or Feb., not sure I will do the diet to a "T" but it will be good to have the social aspect of the meetings.

I have learned that Low Carb is good for getting me motivated again. It cuts my cravings and makes it easier to diet (Ketosis side effect is a much lower appetite). I am not sure how long I will stay on Low Carb but I will be starting it pretty soon. Maybe I will plan on staying on it until I am 15 or so pounds down.

My immediate plan is to finish off any foods in the house that are “normal” foods.. (not eating any crap.. no more Rum Balls or Christmas Cookies.. no Egg Nog or such). I am using up the foods we have left in the house, eating small amounts (low portions) and just counting calories until foods are gone and I have to go shopping, then we are starting Low Carb for a while.

Low Carb is pretty hard on my electrolytes. I lose minerals allot so I have to take a massive amt. of supplements while I am doing the diet. (Atkins) so I won’t stay on it for months at a time, (at least I have not been able to in the past).

I am also going to get back into Raw this summer.


If I could wave a magic wand...


and have any weight loss I would dream of it would be to lose 90#. I want to weigh 144 – (I am 5’- 4”).

Using different plans thru this transition will also definitely be in my future. I get bored and like to read different diet books (plans) and shake up my way of eating from time to time with different plans.

I have not started back to my walking. Will start again soon.